How to Grow Blue-Eyed Daisy? Tropical Plants Need Good Temperature Control
SummaryGermination: remove the seed coat, soak the seeds in water, then place them in a cool, shady spot to germinate; once they sprout (show white), they can be sown. Sowing: place the seeds in a seedling tray and cover with a thin plastic film. Fertilizing: after the seedlings grow 2 pairs of true leaves, apply a thin water-soluble fertilizer once a week, and after 2 months apply a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer. Temperature: the ideal range is 20-25°C; temperatures that are too high or too low will affect the germination rate. Water: water at the right time. Light: shade is needed in summer. Pruning: prune excess branches.
What Is the Blue-Eyed Daisy
The blue-eyed daisy, also called the African daisy or large-flowered blue-eyed daisy, is native to southern Africa and prefers to grow in areas with plenty of light and cool conditions; it is neither cold-tolerant nor heat-tolerant.
The plant is medium-sized, with solitary flowers that are ligulate, and a blue-purple flower disc; its flower meaning is silence.
How to Grow the Blue-Eyed Daisy
1. Germination. Remove the seed coat of the blue-eyed daisy seeds and soak them in water; moisten a paper towel and place it on a small plate, cover it with a plastic bag to keep in moisture, then place it in a cool, shady spot to germinate; once the seeds sprout (show white), they can be sown.
2. Sowing. Mix peat and perlite in a certain ratio until evenly combined, then place the mix in a seedling tray; make a small hole in the tray, put the seeds in, cover with a layer of fine soil and vermiculite, mist with water to keep in moisture, then cover the tray with a thin plastic film. After the seeds germinate, remove the covering promptly; once 60-70% of the seeds have their cotyledons unfolded, tear off the film, but make sure the substrate stays moist so that the ungerminated seeds can emerge smoothly from their seed coats.
3. Fertilizing. After the seedlings grow 2 pairs of true leaves, apply a thin water-soluble fertilizer as appropriate once a week, and gradually increase the fertilizer concentration as the seedlings keep growing. Two months after emergence, start with a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer, then gradually switch to phosphorus and potassium fertilizers; after buds appear, continue applying phosphorus fertilizer, and after flowering, reduce or stop fertilizing.
4. Temperature. The blue-eyed daisy is a tropical plant, and the growing temperature is best kept at 20-25°C; temperatures that are too high or too low will both lower the germination rate of blue-eyed daisy seeds. In winter, the indoor temperature should be kept above 12°C; if the temperature drops below 5°C, cover the blue-eyed daisy with a plastic bag, tie the bag tightly, and leave a few small holes on top for ventilation.
5. Water. Water at the right time after sowing; when raising seedlings in winter, soil temperatures are low at night and water loss is small, so during the seedling stage you can skip watering or water less; if the soil temperature is higher, mist at the right time to replenish water. When raising seedlings in summer, water evaporates very quickly, so mist more often. The blue-eyed daisy generally takes only 3 months from sowing to flowering; during the full bloom period it needs a relatively large amount of water, and generally you should water once the soil surface is dry. When watering the blue-eyed daisy, the water force must not be too strong, so as not to damage the soil surface and affect root growth.
6. Light. The blue-eyed daisy is not heat-tolerant; most seeds need plenty of light when germinating, so provide shade in summer and place it outside to receive light in the other seasons, to prevent the seedlings from growing leggy.
7. Pruning. Before winter, prune the excess branches from the blue-eyed daisy plant to prevent excessive nutrient consumption and vegetative growth.
8. Pest and disease control. In winter, destroy the diseased plants and leaves on the blue-eyed daisy or spray them with a medicinal solution for disinfection, to prevent the source of disease from harming the plants again the following year.